Veterans Day Message – 2018: Analysis by Maj. Gen. Paul Valley

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations came into effect. On November 11, 1919, Armistice Day was commemorated for the first time. In 1919, President Wilson proclaimed the day should be “…filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory.”  At 11am, there was a brief suspension of business activities so that parades and public meetings could place.

Today, our Nation comes together to honor our veterans and commemorate the legacy of profound service and sacrifice they have upheld in pursuit of a more perfect Union. Through their steadfast defense of America’s ideals, our service members have ensured our country stands strong and that these ideals and virtues still shine throughout America.

Nations around the world seek freedom.  We know the blessings of freedom. As we offer our sincere appreciation and respect to our veterans, to their families, to those who are still in harm’s way, and to those we have laid to rest, let us dedicate ourselves to keep America strong.

Our men and women in uniform are bearers of a proud military tradition that has been dutifully passed forward—from generation to generation—for more than two centuries. In times of war and peace, our veterans have served with courage and distinction in the face of tremendous adversity, demonstrating an unfaltering commitment to America and our people.  Many have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the country they loved including our son, Scott Vallely.  The selflessness of our service members is unmatched, and they remind us that there are few things more fundamentally American than doing our utmost to make a difference in the lives of others and secure our great country.

Just as our veterans stood watch and stand watch today on freedom’s frontier and along our borders, so have they safeguarded the prosperity of American in our neighborhoods, our businesses, and our homes.  It is our moral obligation to ensure that they receive our support, despite the current gutting of our Armed Forces, for as long as they live as proud veterans of the United States Armed Forces. On Veterans Day, we pay tribute to the veterans, to the fallen, and to their families.  To honor their contributions to America, let us strive with renewed determination to keep the promises we have made to all who have answered our country’s call.  As we fulfill our obligations to them, we keep faith with the patriots who have risked their lives to preserve the Union, and with the ideals of service and sacrifice upon which our Republic was founded.

We CALL upon every member of federal, state and local government, legislative, judicial, law enforcement and military, who have taken an oath to protect and defend the Constitutional Republic from all enemies, foreign and domestic, to act upon those oaths for the stated purpose of restoring our Constitutional Republic.

We CALL upon ALL veterans and veteran organizations in America, who still believe in their oath to protect and defend, to unite with us at once – in this Declaration to maintain our Constitutional Republic.

We CALL for ALL citizens who still desire freedom and liberty, to stand with us and carry our demands to right the wrongs against our nation in the preservation of freedom, liberty, justice and the rule of law.

GOD BLESS All Of YOU AND GOD BLESS OUR NATION!

 

Paul E. Vallely is a retired U.S. Army major general and senior military analyst for Fox News. He served in the Vietnam War and retired in 1993 as deputy commanding general, Pacific Command.